ICC World Cup 2015: 5 mistakes that South Africa made against India

Much to everybody’s surprise India pulled off a clinical performance to clinch a very important victory against South Africa in a high prestige encounter in the league stage of the World Cup 2015. India outplayed South Africa in all departments including fielding and came out triumphant for the first time in the four meetings they have had in the World Cups.India were as good as they could be on 22nd May. But there were certain mistakes that South Africa committed that eventually led to their defeat. Without taking anything away from India on this special win, let’s take a look at where did the Proteas go wrong:

#1 Team Selection

South Africa chose to leave Farhaan Behardien out of the playing 11 and replaced him with Parnell. It is easy to criticize something once the decision goes wrong. But let’s try to find out the reason behind this selection and then we will see why does it have to do a bit more with misreading the opposition and less with the strategy.

South Africa chose to go with an extra specialist bowler leaving a long tail of Parnell, Philander, Tahir, Morkel and Steyn. Sourth Africa assumed their batting would be safe even with one less batsman and would not collapse twice, after Zimbabwe, especially against a bowling group that has been ridiculed to be among the worst leading up to the World Cup. The plan was to shut India out in the batting department and then maneuver against the weak bowling attack.

Philanders injury did not help. The only replacement, Parnell, cost them 85 in 9 which eventually helped India reach 307. And to their amazement, Indian bowlers performed even more splendidly just when we thought the show against Pakistan could be their best of the tournament.

South Africa’s assumption that their batting would not fail and Indian bowlers would not come good, twice, was the mistake that cost them dearly.

#2 Sloppy Fielding

South Africa are the favorites to win this World Cup not just because of the batting and bowling prowess they possess but also because they are known to be the best of the lot when it comes to fielding. But in this match, unfortunately for them, India out played them in this department as well.

Amla dropped a crucial catch of Shikhar Dhawan, on 53, who went on score a match winning hundred. It was a tough chance, no doubt, but then South Africa are known to clinch these. Raina too was dropped on 6 by substitute Rossouw. Thankfully, that did not cost them much.

The overall fielding by South Africa was ordinary. Misfields, giving doubles for singles, overthrows, everything was there. The pressure increased from the moment India looked set for 300. South Africa weren’t themselves after that and it showed clearly. Also, more than 60,000 supporters cheering for India did not help either.

#3 Too many loose deliveries

India played out almost 25 overs in dots and still managed to make more than run-a-ball in the end. South Africans did well in patches to exert the pressure on Indian batsmen; especially early in the innings. But every time the pressure was mounting they bowled that pressure releasing ball that undid the previous good work.

Indian batsmen, as good as they are, did not lose out on those opportunities and as a result of that India reached 307 scoring 50% runs in boundaries. Philander was a big blow for Africans, but the bowling attack that is considered to be among the best in the world is not supposed to produce as many lose deliveries as the Africans have produced in this match.

In the end 307 proved too be just too much for them as they played out almost 60% dot balls and could score just 33% runs in boundaries. Unlike South Africa, Indian bowlers showed discipline and won a special victory for the team.

#4 The TWO Run Outs

AB de Villiers was batting well on 30 and was involved in a 68 run partnership with Faf du Plessis who himself was playing well. In the 23rd over De Villiers decided to go for a risky second run after driving Jadega to sweeper cover. A risk that did not pay off as Mohit Sharma’s rocket throw right next to the stumps had him just short by a couple of inches. A risk that proved to be the massive moment in the match that turned the match in India’s favor. As it turns out, De Villiers tops the list of most run outs in ODIs since November 2006.

David Miller’s run out on the other hand was clear case of desperation. They were going nowhere around 34th over with 5 down and just 151 runs on the board. Miller, after sweeping Ashwin towards Umesh, set off for a second. Umesh, a bowler with strong shoulders, threw a sharp and flat throw to Dhoni who did the rest. Even the slide did not save Miller.

These two run outs were huge in the context of the game. As De Villiers later said, “Me and David Miller sat on the side of the field, not even being dismissed by a bowler, which was disappointing.”

Indeed it was.

#5 Improper use of Dale Steyn

South Africa did the right thing to start their bowling with Dale Steyn. He did not disappoint and produced a maiden in the first over denting Rohit’s confidence and more importantly reducing the game to 49 overs for India straightaway. That’s what you want from Steyn, pressure. And he delivers, we all know that.

After the first spell of 4 overs, Steyn came back to bowl in 26th over and was removed immediately after Kohli fell to Tahir. Another wicket there would have put India on back foot and had slowed them down. Instead, Steyn was removed and Rahane settled well playing other bowlers and eventually scored 79 of just 60 balls.

Towards the end he could have been used better, earlier; definitely not 50th over. It is difficult to understand what good could come from having a bowler like Steyn bowl the 50th over when the opposition has already reached 302. You don’t want him to do damage control, there are other guys for that. He is there to do damage to the opposition himself.

India were 278 for 5 after 46th over that was bowled by Steyn as his 9th. He took a wicket in that over. With Dhoni and Jadeja on the crease it would have been fitting to have him bowl at them in search of another wicket. Instead, they were allowed to have a go at other bowlers for next 3 overs, one of which was Parnell’s who went for 3 consecutive boundaries in 48th over. Steyn bowled 50th over, conceded 5 runs, took no wickets. A complete waste of a bowler of his class.

If Steyn was bowled at opportune moments after the first spell, it would have been hard for India to reach 300 had he delivered. If he hadn’t, at least he would not be wated like he was in the end.

It all adds up and it did. India outperformed South Africa, in all the three departments and they were strategically superior.

3-1 it is.